Bournemouth conducted some decent transfer business over the summer and got their campaign off to a winning start last weekend as they dispatched Cardiff City with relative ease. 

The Cherries and manager Eddie Howe deserve plenty of credit for maintaining their Premier League place over the last few seasons, and there will be high hopes for further improvement this season.

One of the key summer signings brought to the club was Sheffield United and Wales youngster David Brooks, who joined the Cherries in a deal worth just over £10m to the Championship club.

However, we at the Transfer Tavern think that Bournemouth could have been wiser to make it a double swoop on the Blades by signing defender Jack O'Connell at the same time.

The former Brentford man has developed into one of the Championship's leading defenders, with his marauding runs from left centre back becoming something of a trademark, while he has endeared himself to Blades fans with a number of fine performances over the last two years.

O'Connell looks to have all the tools to become a Premier League player, and the likes of Brighton were linked heavily with him over the summer months.

While Bournemouth do have their regulars in defence, the likes of Steve Cook and Simon Francis are not getting any younger, and O'Connell could have been the perfect partner for big money signing Nathan Ake at the heart of the Cherries defence.

Bournemouth fans, what do you think? Would O'Connell have been a good signing? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!